Visitors will see the Slavic Epic in M. Krumlov from the turn of July to August

Moravský Krumlov – Visitors to the castle in Moravský Krumlov will see the Slav Epic by Alfons Mucha at the turn of July and August. It will be exhibited in the renovated areas of the castle for five years. Prague today handed over the inspected work to Moravský Krumlov, said Prague councilor Hana Třeštíková (Praha Sobě) to journalists. The cycle of 20 canvases was transported to Moravský Krumlov under strict security measures at the end of June from the depository of the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague (GHMP).

Experts from the gallery oversaw the installation of the canvases and the setting of ideal climatic conditions, and they conducted a final inspection today. "All the canvases have been successfully installed. We are fine-tuning some details, such as lighting, and experts are also conducting final inspections of the paintings before the start of test operation," said the mayor of Moravský Krumlov, Tomáš Třetina (TOP 09).

Prague, along with GHMP, set stringent conditions for the loan and exhibition of the works. These concern safety, the level and quality of exhibition space, lighting, as well as constant temperature and humidity. The temperature in the premises is around 20 degrees Celsius with fifty percent humidity. The transportation itself was provided by a specialized company. For the transport of the paintings, the largest of which measures eight by six meters, air-conditioned boxes and trucks were used. The canvases were installed by academic painter and restorer Tomáš Berger with his team at the castle.

Moravský Krumlov invested 63 million crowns to create suitable conditions in the eastern wing, most of which was obtained from grants from the Ministry of Culture, with some also from the budget of the South Moravian Region. The local castle now meets the highest European standards for the exhibition of artworks. "The Slav Epic has been a part of the genius loci of Moravský Krumlov for decades. We believe that the exhibition will attract not only visitors from the Czech Republic but also lovers of Art Nouveau from all over Europe. It is also a path to the prosperity of the entire region," added Třetina.

The managers of the epic, GHMP, are satisfied with the conditions at the castle. "They are diametrically different from those from which it was removed ten years ago. Due to the space, it was not possible to maintain the sequence of the canvases, and the cycle is out of order; we will issue brochures to help visitors orient themselves. We believe that the public will soon turn their attention to the epic, and the efforts of all of us to make it accessible again will be appreciated," said gallery director Magdalena Juříková.

The test operation of the exhibition will begin at the turn of July and August. Due to measures against the spread of coronavirus, the number of visitors is limited, and it is better to purchase tickets in advance on the website www.mucha-epopej.cz. The full ticket price is 250 crowns.

The cycle of paintings consists of 20 large canvases that Mucha painted from 1910 for another 18 years and donated to Prague. The first 11 canvases of the epic were exhibited in 1919 in Prague's Clementinum, and from 1920 to 1921, they enjoyed success at exhibitions in New York and Chicago. The entire epic was first exhibited in 1928 at the Trade Fair Palace in Prague, and the paintings came under the administration of the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague. In 1933, the canvases were rolled up and stored in a depository. It was not until 1963 that they were exhibited again at the castle in Moravský Krumlov, from which they were taken away by the then leadership of Prague in 2011. They were then in the depository of GHMP as Prague had no place to exhibit them. After their return to Prague, the work is to be housed for 25 years in the Savarin building on Wenceslas Square.